Today was the last cluster chat for my “American Swagger” summer class.
My favorite part was hearing the students talk through what the fall semester looks like given COVID-19 and what the next generation looks like.
One of them is starting a voter registration campaign when school starts.
This generation – as suggested in the above video, which is the last for this semester – gives me amazing hope about a better world. The reflection below concerning this sentiment and more is from one student:
As I listened to the video clip of “Dis Generation” by A Tribe Called Quest, I was struck by the connection to defining generations and groups in the constant struggle to own and display the power associated with American swagger. The idea of one group sort of transforming and being different from the mainstream was not a new concept in our journey of understanding American swagger. We have seen it numerous times and most recently with the Punk rockers and in large part the story of Melvin van Peebles. The Punk rockers decided to be defined on their own terms and not by a measure of society. They called for and executed an expression of themselves whether society accepted it or not. In the same vain, Melvin van Peebles challenged an institution in defining the Black experience. There are connections to A Tribe Called Quest and their song “Dis Generation”. The song in essence proclaims that this generation has a voice and power in society that cannot be defined by traditional terms. At one point, they sang, “… You can’t define us, XY us, or Z us, you generational… Elitists have your chi in virtual think pieces…” This aligns perfectly with the messages of A Tribe Called Quest. They have been known for intelligent messages on social issues. Some in Hip Hop consider them the most intellectually powerful groups of the 1990’s. They have always made a point of speaking on societal issues, especially from the Black perspective. The song comes to an end with a concept that brings our discussions on American swagger full circle. The song ends with, “… We still have the highest commodity grade, and you could get it get it get it today… Dis generation Rules di nation… This is our generation, generation, ah…” In the complex struggle to understand American swagger, we have seen this idea of using commodities to leverage power in America. It has in the very least helped to create the idea of those who have power and those who do not have power….
As I told the student, he can drop the mic. My work here is almost done – for this semester.
I have used this video while teaching “American Civilization to 1865” with Jacksonian America in mind. Making allowances for time and culture, the “you can’t define us” sentiment held true. It has been a privilege to recast this video with a new course filled with people possessing incredible analytical skill. They do more than describe. They can truly analyze. They are a historian’s dream come true.
Roll Tide!
PS Wanted to share the clip below. was privileged to spend time during my first grad program with Donya Feuer who worked with German choreographer Pina Bausch. As shared elsewhere, the ripple effect from Pina and Donya’s generation is real and expansive and so on display in my summer course.
catalogue 